The Franchisees in the Coverall® System know the importance of having a clean office space, not only for business function and productivity, but also for employee health and wellness. Investing in the proper steps to ensure office cleanliness is especially important during the most vulnerable times of the year, including cold and flu season.

In an effort to educate consumers on making the workplace healthier during cold and flu season, Coverall North America, Inc., a leading franchisor of commercial cleaning businesses, commissioned a national survey asking men and women who have worked, or currently work, in an office setting what surface or common area contains the most infectious germs in the office. More than 50 percent of those surveyed selected computer keyboards as the culprit when in fact, the handles on the kitchen sink contain the most bacteria.

“Influenza causes billions of dollars in lost productivity each year, which is why the Coverall® Program is designed to provide consistent, high-quality service to aid in the fight against infectious germs in the workplace,” said Rick Ascolese, President and CEO of Coverall North America, Inc. “Our Franchisees’ service packages and techniques go beyond the standard dusting and vacuuming. The Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System® Program uses proprietary processes that are designed to tackle contagious germs that can be found throughout the workplace – even the kitchen sink handles.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, each flu season, nearly 111 million workdays are lost due to the flu, translating to approximately $7 billion per year in sick days. While the CDC strongly recommends the flu vaccination, there are several other common Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) that businesses can incorporate into their cold and flu prevention plans:

·      Encourage employees to wash hands frequently throughout the day.

·      Regularly wipe down keyboards, phones and other frequently touched surfaces with disinfecting or sanitizing wipes.

·      Utilize the “elbow cough” method of using the crook of your arm instead of your hand. This helps prevent spreading germs when tissues aren’t available. 

·      If you’re sick, stay home. This will help prevent the spread of sickness and aid in a faster recovery.

The Coverall Core 4® Process used by Coverall Franchisees adds another line of defense in the battle against cold and flu viruses. The proprietary process includes hundreds of specialized cleaning protocols and technologies designed to disinfect and fight the spread of infectious germs, which can ultimately aid in preventing employees from getting sick. From advanced cleaning equipment to effective cleaning product chemistry, the Coverall Program is designed to create a safe and healthy work environment.

In order to help you combat the 2016 Cold and Flu Season, Coverall has identified popular “germ hot spots” in and around the workplace. To find out where germs are hiding in your office, visit: https://goo.gl/WsZ4en.

About Coverall North America, Inc.

Since its inception in 1985, Coverall North America, Inc. has grown into a leading franchised brand, licensing thousands of entrepreneurs to operate independent commercial cleaning businesses using the Coverall® brand and system. February 26, 2015, marked the company’s 30th year in business, a milestone anniversary celebrated across the entire Coverall Franchise System. In 2008, Coverall launched its proprietary Health-Based Cleaning System® Program and in 2014, introduced the Coverall Core 4® Process, demonstrating its dedication to continuous innovation and leadership on behalf of its franchisees. Coverall’s unique system combines advanced cleaning technologies and tools, hospital-grade disinfectants, professional training programs, business support services, and a passion for healthy cleaning to do one thing: help our franchised businesses remove the maximum amount of dirt and germs as efficiently as possible for their customers. System-wide, more than 8,000 Franchised Businesses provide Coverall® Program services across 90 markets to over 40,000 customers. For more information, visit www.coverall.com.